Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will attend the 15th ASEAN-India Summit and the 12th East Asia Summit to be held in Manila, Philippines on 14 November 2017, at the invitation of H.E. Mr. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, President of the Republic of the Philippines. The Summits will be attended by Heads of State/Government of the 10 ASEAN and 18 East Asia Summit Participating Countries respectively.

During the visit, Prime Minister will have a bilateral meeting with President Duterte. In the margins, Prime Minister will also hold bilateral meetings with several other world Leaders.

India's engagement with the ASEAN and wider Indo-Pacific region has acquired further momentum following the enunciation of the ‘Act East Policy’ by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at the 12th ASEAN-India Summit and 9th East Asia Summit in Myanmar in November 2014. This is Prime Minister's fourth such engagement at these important Leaders-led fora.

At the 15th ASEAN-India Summit, Prime Minister and ASEAN Leaders will review the commemorative activities undertaken in 2017 to mark the 25 years of India's dialogue partnership with ASEAN as well as review the broad spectrum of ASEAN-India cooperation in all its aspects.

India and ASEAN have 30 dialogue mechanisms which meet regularly, including a Summit and 7 Ministerial meetings in Foreign Affairs, Commerce, Tourism, Agriculture, Environment, Renewable Energy and Telecommunications. Minister of State for External Affairs, General (Dr.) Shri V.K. Singh (Retd.) recently attended the ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers' Meeting and EAS Foreign Ministers' Meeting from 6-8 August 2017 in Manila, Philippines. Minister for Commerce and Industry, Shri Suresh Prabhu attended the ASEAN Economic Ministers + India Consultations held in Manila on 11 September 2017 where the Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen economic cooperation. Smt. Nirmala Seetharaman on her first foreign visit in the capacity of Raksha Mantri attended the 4th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus held in Manila on 24 October 2017 where she reiterated India's zero tolerance stand on terrorism and recognized the role of international and regional platforms in fighting this menace.

Trade between India and ASEAN stood at US$ 71 billion in 2016-17 and comprises 10.85% of India’s total trade with the world. Early conclusion of a balanced Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement .will further boost our trade and investment ties with the region.

The East Asia Summit is the premier Leaders-led forum in the Indo-Pacific. Since its inception in 2005, it has played a significant role in the strategic, geopolitical and economic evolution of East Asia. Apart from the 10 ASEAN Member states, East Asia Summit includes India, China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, United States and Russia.

India, being a founding member of the East Asia Summit, is committed to strengthening the East Asia Summit and making it more effective for dealing with contemporary challenges.

At the 12th East Asia Summit, Leaders will discuss matters of regional and international interest and concern including maritime security, terrorism, non-proliferation, irregular migration, etc. The Leaders are also expected to accept declarations on Countering the Spread of Terrorist Narratives, Anti Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism and Poverty Alleviation.

PM would be also attending a Leaders' Meeting on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Negotiations which would follow the 12th East Asia Summit.